Dr Ron Discusses Veganism and Sustainable Food Choices

Dr Ron Ehrlich: Hello and welcome to Healthy Byte. My name is Dr Ron Ehrlich. I wanted to address the issue of veganism because it’s big. A film called The Game Changer came out recently, produced by Titanic’s director and producer, James Cameron. So, of course, it would be a very high standard, and it was a very compelling message. And, of course, I think it probably changed a lot of people’s attitudes to veganism.

I think it’s interesting to note that as I delved into it in more detail, I realized that James Cameron is interested in the vegan industry. So perhaps one could argue there is a conflict of interest there. But putting it aside, I wanted to address the issue of veganism. And look, there are two reasons why people go vegan. The main one, I think, is an ethical one, and I indeed share people’s concerns about the ethics of industrialized animal agriculture.

Whether we’re talking about poultry in pens that are tens of thousands of birds in a cage in a caged environment, or we’re talking about pigs in pens where they’re not allowed to move or whatever. We were all talking about cows in confined, feeding lots. Um, you know, I think there is an overall philosophy that we should all abide by what is suitable for the animal, is generally good for us, and what is good for us.

And the animal is generally good for the planet. And I don’t think anybody could argue that animal agriculture and industrialized animal agriculture are not suitable for the animal, not good for us and the planet. So let’s park that idea aside for a moment. But the other thing I would say is that it is not a simple thing. Uh, clearing land to grow vegetables is not necessarily the answer.

The Importance of Sustainable Food Choices

And a brilliant article by a journalist and regenerative farmer, Matthew Evans. I had the privilege of recently visiting Matthew’s farm in Tasmania, sharing lunch with him and Sadie and others, and seeing what was going on there. But Matthew wrote an article in the Sydney Morning Herald last year on this very issue, and I want to read one paragraph from that article to make the point that it is not as simple as vegetables do not harm the planet.

Here is Matthews, one paragraph from his article, and I’m quoting Matthew; you let me be clear. “What else dies? About 40,000 ducks die each year to grow rice in Australia. Ducks die to grow strawberries. I’ve met the farmers and shooters who tell me it is. So it is not just the birds, the bees, the slugs, and the moths that are killed for your vegetables and grains.

Mammals die, too; one grower I know kills 1500 animals a year. A lot of possums, deer, wallabies and some birds. Yes. For frozen peas on our farm, we kill more animals in our two-acre market garden than pigs and cattle. On the other, 68 acres combined. Rats, mice, moths, IFAD, slugs and snails. We compete with them for food. We’re not the only ones killing to produce vegan food. Is it kinder to eat apples from a farm where they shoot possums to protect the crop than meat from a sheep’s shore? Some farming systems are better than others but are growing anything kind.

Now, you know, I also did a podcast last year with Fred Provenza, who made the point that plants communicate with each other when they are under attack. Plants communicate with the microbes and the microbial funky in the soil.

Plants don’t move. But one could argue that plants are sent to paintings. Well, maybe they are, or perhaps they aren’t. But let’s face it; we kill things. We kill something for food. And it is not a simple black-and-white issue about if you go vegan, that means you are pure. I don’t believe it is simple as that. I agree that we overeat food, even meat.

Veganism and Food Supplementation

Even if we eat regeneratively grown ethically grown meat, I still believe we overeat. So I think there is a powerful argument for that. Last year or very early on in my podcast on Unstress, I interviewed Tasmanian orthopaedic surgeon Gary Fettke who described himself as a vegan who supplements his diet with dairy, fish, meat and poultry. So I quite like that. I think the majority of our diets should be vegetable-based.

Although as I also made the point, vegetables are not without problems. If you are sensitive to FODMAPs, fructose, oligos, dye, saccharide and polyphenols FODMAPs, if you are sensitive to oxalates, phytates, and salicylates, then vegetables may not be the best answer for you. If you are sensitive to gluten, then vegetables, some of those grains may also not be the answer for you. So you know it is not cut and dry.

We have for millions of years had a relationship with animals. And as far as I know, no culture has thrived generation after generation on the vegan diet. So I think we have much to learn from our past, and we should honour animals as sacred, honoured and nurtured, honouring them from nose to tail, but it is not as simple as just going vegan, and all the problems will be solved. So that’s my first Green Byte for the year. I hope this finds you all well. I’m sure this will generate some interest and comments, which I’m always open to. Until next time. This is Dr Ron Ehrlich. Be well

This podcast provides general information and discussion about medicine, health, and related subjects. The content is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice or as a substitute for care by a qualified medical practitioner. If you or any other person has a medical concern, they should consult with an appropriately qualified medical practitioner. Guests in this podcast express their opinions, experiences, and conclusions.